Once again, as they had back in Independence, Gus and Sam lay facing each other in the bed of the wagon. Even though they had just been together the night before, those memories, along with Gus’ disclosure of the importance of what he had called family, made Sam’s arousal sweeter. He lay with one arm around Gus’ shoulders. With the other, he stroked the side of the older man’s face. Gus leaned his head on one hand. He ran the other up and down Sam’s hair-covered chest, stopping to tease his n*****s. He stopped and held the leather pouch.
“Been meanin’ ta ask ya, what’s in this thing you keep ‘round yer neck?”
Sam hesitated. He didn’t know how much he wanted to share with Gus, or anyone for that matter, about his life as Soaring Hawk. After a moment, he sighed and said, “Memories, memorie
